{katie zimmerman} Raised in the thriving metropolis of Broomall, PA since the tender age of two, Katie has grown up to become a strong-minded, no-nonsense perfectionist and self-proclaimed daddy’s girl. A band geek in high school, music industry major in college and library avoider in law school, Katie has spent the last several years honing her skills (graphic design, knitting, numb chucks, etc.) with the hopes of taking the music industry by storm someday as an music agent or manager. She currently manages the incomparable Dan May and does freelance music consulting in her (almost non-existent) spare time. Upon law school graduation, Katie plans on making the move to Los Angeles so that she can sell her soul to a large agency for long hours and very little money.

{mike jelen} Mike was raised in Rydal, PA and currently lives out of his suitcase somewhere in the Northeast Corridor. An avid traveler and foodie, Mike chases any opportunity to eat and explore his way around the world. If you don't already know, he's an ingenious entrepreneur and Duke MBA student who is currently rescuing the US from financial crisis (no big deal, all in a day's work...). Not sure where he'll be a month, week or day from now, Mike is ready to take on whatever the world can dish out (especially if it's wrapped in bacon or cheesecake).

{katie & mike} The five-year road to this wedding all began when Katie strategically placed a guitar in a friend’s college dorm room. Mike, always a sucker for girls who can sing, asked where the guitar had come from. "Oh, this ol' thing? Well, I really don't know... I mean, I don’t really play… that much…" Mike and Katie’s mutual friend Maria (who had helped Katie scheme from the beginning), then “casually” suggested, “Katie, why don’t you play that song you’ve been working on?” Mike, completely unaware he had walked into a treacherous female trap, was instantly drawn in once Katie reluctantly acquiesced (also a part of the plan). Shortly thereafter, he and Katie started making beautiful music together. (No, not like THAT! They were writing and performing actual music.)

After two years, and several crazy events later, Mike quit his day job at a steel company, his night job as a singing/acting waiter and hung up his sash as Mr. Teen Philadelphia (yes, all of those things actually happened) to pursue a “real job” in consulting. Although this new job put Mike on the road more than 200 days a year, he and Katie always made time to stay connected, despite the distance. In May of 2006, Mike proposed on a Caribbean beach under the stars and Katie romantically responded, “Shut up! You’re joking!” …which roughly translates to “Yes, I’ll marry you.” Now, 3 years and 3 failed wedding plans later (see {The Idea} for more on that), Katie and Mike have decided to celebrate their long road to marriage with a wedding around the world.